[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 3723-3724] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-1721] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers New York and New Jersey Harbor Navigation Feasibility Study AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, Army, DOD. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, seeks comments from interested individuals, groups, and businesses about the need for, and alternatives to, Federal participation in the deepening of navigation channels within the Port of New York and New Jersey. It will consider all comments in its formulation and selection of alternatives. DATES: Comments must reach the New York District on or before 30 March 1998. ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Study Manager, Flood Control & Navigation Section, Planning Division, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090, or deliver them to Room 2151 at the same address between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays, or e-mail to [email protected]. The telephone number is (212) 264-1060. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Shea III, Study Manager, Flood Control & Navigation Section, Planning Division, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (212) 264-1060. E-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announces the initiation of a cost shared feasibility level study for determining whether Federal participation in navigation improvements in the Port of New York and New Jersey is justified. The study is being conducted in partnership among the State of New York acting through the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development Corporation, the State of New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development (Maritime Resources), The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. The study is authorized by Section 435 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (WRDA 96). Planning studies of water resource problems are conducted in two phases by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in its Civil Works role. The first phase is the reconnaissance study, accomplished entirely at Federal expense. The second phase is the feasibility study, which is cost shared equally between the Federal Government and one or more non- Federal sponsors. The Section 905b, WRDA 86 Analysis Fact Sheet was completed in April, 1997. The purpose of this analysis is three-fold: (1) determine whether the Federal Government should participate in further studies of the water resource problems; (2) determine the scope, duration and cost of any further studies; (3) identify one or more non-Federal sponsors willing to cost-share the studies. The analysis found that there should be sufficient economic benefits to justify deepening selected channels within the Port to 50 feet or more below mean low water and identified the non-Federal sponsors mentioned above for the feasibility study. The feasibility phase will perform, in more detail, the engineering, economic and environmental evaluations necessary to identify the optimum channel depths to meet the existing and future needs of the Port of New York and New Jersey, with an emphasis on container and crude petroleum traffic. At its completion, a ``Feasibility Report'' containing a recommendation for construction, if justified and supported by a non-Federal sponsor, will be released. The report, including the necessary environmental documentation, will be submitted to the United States Congress for project authorization. The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port on the East Coast, providing more than 166,000 port-related jobs, $20 billion in economic activity, and serving more than 17 million consumers in the states of New York and New Jersey. Through its intermodal links, the Port provides second day access to another 80 million consumers in the northeast and mid-western states. In 1995, the Port [[Page 3724]] received and shipped more than 44.8 million long tons of waterborne general cargo to all parts of the United States and throughout the world and received petroleum and related products from ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, the Caribbean, Africa and the Persian Gulf. The Corps' New York District requests any pertinent information about the project area from any Federal, state, or local agencies, and the private sector. In particular, we request information on the type, amount, and location of waterborne commerce and ships calling on the Port and any projections of future commerce and size of ships. This information will be used to define the status of the Port, forecast the benefits of channel improvements, and determine potential Federal involvement in providing deeper, wider and/or realigned channels. The Corps also welcomes any assistance and suggestions concerning the conduct of this study. John Sassi, Chief, Planning Division. [FR Doc. 98-1721 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-06-M